Agenda items for October 2023 Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee meeting

We are sharing the following information about what the Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee will be considering at its upcoming meeting in October. We will aim to publish the record of this meeting by early 2024. 

Agenda items

Treatments for urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer)

The Committee will advise us on immune checkpoint inhibitors for urothelial carcinoma. This will inform our options for any potential funding opportunities in the future. Two applications related to this discussion are:

Application for atezolizumab – for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, second-line(external link)

Application for pembrolizumab – for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, second-line(external link)

Reconsideration of retreatment with trastuzumab for breast cancer

The Committee will advise us on new evidence for trastuzumab for metastatic breast cancer following progression of the disease. We received this evidence in the feedback to our recent procurement process for trastuzumab. Our advisors previously recommended declining this application [PDF, 154 KB] in January 2023.

Treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma (a cancer of the lymphatic system)

The Committee will advise us on medicines we have previously considered for Hodgkin lymphoma(external link). This will help us identify where there are gaps in currently funded treatments and what is needed.

Treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (a blood cancer)

The Committee will advise us on  medicines for chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL). This will inform our priorities for any potential funding opportunities in the future. We are currently considering a number of applications for the treatment of CLL(external link).

Consideration of applications via Pharmac’s exceptional circumstance’s pathway

The Committee will provide advice to support management of certain applications via Pharmac’s exceptional circumstances pathway.

Treatment for lymphoma (a cancer of the lymphatic system)

The Committee will consider an application for brentuximab for a type of lymphoma. Brentuximab is already funded for Hodgkin and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.

Application for brentuximab – for adult patients with previously untreated CD30+ non-cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (CHP)(external link)

Treatment for lung cancer

The Committee will consider an application for atezolizumab for adjuvant treatment (after surgery) of stage II-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Atezolizumab, is currently funded for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Application for atezolizumab – for adjuvant treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), PD-L1 positive(external link)

Treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma (a rare skin cancer)

The Committee will consider an application for pembrolizumab for advanced Merkel cell carcinoma. Pembrolizumab is currently funded for advanced non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic melanoma.

Application for pembrolizumab – for 1st line systemic treatment for recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma(external link)

Treatments for breast cancer

The Committee will consider pembrolizumab for early stage and metastatic breast cancer. Pembrolizumab is currently funded for advanced non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic melanoma.

Application for pembrolizumab – for breast cancer, triple negative, locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic, CPS >10(external link)

Application for pembrolizumab – for breast cancer, triple negative, early Stage II or III, neoadjuvant treatment followed by adjuvant monotherapy(external link)

The Committee will consider an application for a combined subcutaneous injection of pertuzumab and trastuzumab for the neoadjuvant treatment (pre-surgery) of HER2 breast cancer.

Application for combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab fixed dose subcutaneous injection – for neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive, locally advanced, inflammatory, or early-stage breast cancer in combination with chemotherapy at high risk of recurrence(external link)

This will also include consideration of other applications for the combined subcutaneous injection of pertuzumab and trastuzumab:

Application for combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab fixed dose subcutaneous injection – for HER2-positive metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable breast cancer in combination with docetaxel(external link)

Application for combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab fixed dose subcutaneous injection – for adjuvant treatment of individuals with HER2-positive early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence in combination with chemotherapy(external link)

Treatments for biliary tract cancer

The Committee will consider durvalumab for advanced biliary tract cancer. Durvalumab is currently funded for non-small cell lung cancer.

Application for durvalumab – for locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer in combination with chemotherapy(external link)

New preventative treatment for symptoms of cancer therapy

The Committee will consider an application for netupitant/palonosetron for preventing nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.

Application for netupitant/palonosetron – for prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic and moderately emetogenic anti-cancer treatments(external link)